Monday, September 30, 2013

Today's Makeup: Early Fall Purple Eyes Tutorial


Step 1: Put a matte purple shade (I'm using MAC Fig 1) all over the lid & bring it up to the crease

Step 2: Pack on a shimmery cranberry shade (MAC Cranberry) on the lid. Don't bring it up to the crease.

Step 3: Put a matte brown shade (MAC Charcoal Brown) on the crease very lightly. You want the purple to show through. Blend the edges with a CLEAN blending brush.

Step 4: Fill in the brows lightly, making it look natural. Finish off the rest of the face with subtle shimmery peachy blush (Milani Luminoso) and a light contour (NARS Laguna). Lip color can be anything, bold or subtle (Almay Liquid Lip Balm in Apricot Pucker).
MAC Fig 1 | MAC Cranberry | MAC Charcoal Brown | Milani Luminoso | NARS Laguna | Almay Apricot Pucker

If you want to make it into a night out look, use darker purple eye shadows.

Good luck!

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Almay Color + Care Liquid Lip Balm in Apricot Pucker

$5.99     0.24 fl. oz. / 7.1 ml
Ingredients: Polybutene, Petrolatum, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Tribehenin, C10 30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters, Hydrogentated Polyisobutene, Cetyl PEG/PPG 10/1 Dimethicone, Hexyl Laurate, Polyglyceryl 4 Isostearate, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Cera Alba (Beeswax), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Wax, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Palmitic Acid, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Synthetic Wax, Aroma (Flavor), Benzoic Acid, BHT, May Contain (+/-):, Mica, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Red 6 Lake (CI 15850), Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), Carmine (CI 75470), Blue 1 Lake (CI 47090), Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163), Red 33 (CI 17200), Yellow 6 Lake (CI 15985)
Availability: drugstores, Drugstore.com


Almay recently came out with these Liquid Lip Balms. They are like lip glosses but have a more comfortable feel on the lips.


Color & Finish
These Liquid Lip Balms look really opaque in the tubes but they actually apply sheer on the lips. Apricot Pucker is a peachy coral shade. It's one of the brighter/ bolder shade of the range. However, because of the sheerness, it blends with your natural lip color and gives a more natural look. I really love the translucency it gives. It makes the lips look really healthy and yummy without looking overdone.

I love that none of the shades has shimmer. I think shimmer would have made it less comfortable. The product is very glossy first applied and the shine will slowly reduce, as well as the color. Apricot Fucker fades significantly after 2 hours. There is still a little bit of color and shine but not as much as first applied. I don't have the lighter shades but I would imagine that they won't last as long as the brighter shades.

Almay Liquid Lip Balm in Apricot Pucker
bare top lip + bottom lip in Apricot Pucker
both lips in Apricot Pucker

Formula & Consistency
It applies like a lip gloss, but a little thinner. I think the thinner consistency makes it a lot more comfortable than a lip gloss. I didn't notice any feathering, either. It applies very easily, smoothly and evenly.

In terms of skincare properties, it's just average. It has nourishing ingredients like avocado oil and sunflower seed oil, but it's mostly barrier cream based (petrolatum and beeswax). Polybutene is to make the consistency tacky but it does not hydrate. I would consider it more of a lip gloss than a lip balm.


Overall, I'm in love with this product. I'm not a lip gloss person because it can sometimes look "milky", uneven, and feel uncomfortable. I love that the Liquid Lip Balm feels very comfortable on the lips, it gives a little translucency, and it's very easy to apply. I'm really low maintenance when it comes to touching up my makeup, but this I don't mind because I don't need a mirror to reapply it and it doesn't cake up after reapplying many times.

I will for sure pick up some other bright colors. I will skip the lighter colors because based on how sheer Apricot Pucker is, I don't think the lighter colors will have much color payoff at all.

I highly recommend the brighter colors to lipstick wearers like me who don't usually go for lip glosses.

Monday, September 23, 2013

Hall of Fame: Emma Hardie Amazing Face Moringa Cleansing Balm

£34.00     3.4 oz / 100 ml
Ingredients: Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-8 Beeswax, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, PEG-60 Almond Glycerides, Sorbitan Stearate, Palmitic/Stearic Triglycerides, Limonene, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Silica, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange) Flower Oil, Juniperus Virginiana Oil, Aqua (Water), Lecithin, Linalool, Butylene Glycol, Octyldodecyl PCA, Menthyl PCA, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Crithmum Maritimum Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine) Flower Oil, Geraniol, Moringa Pterygosperma Seed Extract, Farnesol, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Disodium Phosphate, Citral, Citric Acid, Citronellol

This cleansing balm has received gazillion raves and hypes in UK beauty communities. Being highly recommended by Caroline Hirons (my go-to skincare guru) here, it's something I had been wanting to try out but unable to find in the US. Since we're on the topic of availability, let's talk about it first.

Availability
I haven't been able to find it on any US cosmetics retailer websites. Fortunately, I did find it in several UK websites that offer free worldwide shipping. The price in USD differs depending on the conversion rates the retailers use. I've seen it from around $55 to $60. There can also be a currency exchange fee charged by your bank per transaction. Mine was around $5. I got mine from feelunique.com when they ran a big sale for around $45.

Now onto the actual product...

Consistency
It's not a very solid balm because there is a good amount of good oils in it. It's just thick enough to be "scoopable." It melts into an oil at your body temperature. By the time it's all over your face, it's already turned into a cleansing oil.

Application
It's super easy to apply. Just scoop about a little bit less than a quarter size out of the jar and gently massage it on your face. If you have makeup on, gently massage it starting from your eyes because it needs some time to work with all the waterproof makeup, do your face, and then back to the eyes. If you don't have makeup on, just use it just how you would with other cleansers.
As with all my makeup removers, I like to do a second cleanse after removing my makeup just to be sure that every bit of makeup and dirt is off of my face. I can do it with either other cleansers or this cleansing balm.

The Impact
It works very well as a gentle cleanser as well as a makeup remover. I wasn't expecting it to remove makeup that well but it does remove super waterproof makeup (even the very stubborn CoverGirl LashBlast 24H). I was pleasantly surprised! It works just as well as my all time favorite DHC Cleansing Oil.
It's suggested to be used with a muslin cloth or washcloth. I'm not a big washcloth user so I usually rinse and then go over my face just once with a warm (not hot!) washcloth. This cleansing balm rinses off very easily and doesn't leave a heavy film on the skin. It's not going to leave you that squeaky clean feeling, but it's not going to leave your face dry or uncomfortable. It just feels like normal skin.

I'm absolutely IN LOVE with this cleansing balm. It makes removing makeup and cleansing a much more pleasant and relaxing experience. It feels nice on the skin, smells very luxurious and calming, and works very well. I love how my skin feels afterwards. No dryness or tightness.
I wouldn't use this to remove my waterproof makeup if I have to do it really fast. I would use my DHC Cleansing Oil instead. Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm just takes a little bit longer to dissolve the waterproof makeup than DHC Cleansing Oil. But it does take it off completely.
I highly recommend it to everyone, no matter what skin type you have. It's a great product. Definitely worth the hype and every penny!

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Hall of Fame: DHC Cleansing Oil

$28     6.7 oz / 200 ml     |     $14     2.3 oz / 70 ml     |     $5.50     1 oz / 30 ml
Ingredients: Olea Europaea (olive) Fruit Oil, Caprylic/capric Triglyceride, Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopherol, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Rosmarinus Officinalis (rosemary) Leaf Oil
Availability: DHC.com, Dermstore.com

This product has been in many favorites and empties posts because it's something I've been using and repurchasing for as long as I've been wearing makeup. It definitely deserves a place in the Hall of Fame.

Consistency & Application
As the name suggest, it's a cleansing oil. One pump is plenty enough for the entire face, including waterproof makeup. Just pump the product onto your palm and smear it all over your face. Start gently massaging the eyes first to dissolve waterproof makeup, do your face, and then back to the eyes.

The Impact
It works very effectively and efficiently. It can be used as a cleanser as well as a makeup remover. It takes off stubborn makeup fast and completely. It's definitely a powerful makeup remover but at the same time gentle. The oil is great because it's emollient enough to eliminate any tugging on the skin.
It rinses off very well. It does not leave any film or residues whatsoever. With that being said, it can be a little drying afterwards. As with all my makeup removers, I do a second cleanse afterwards. You can use whatever cleanser you prefer. I like to use a cleansing milk to balance out the dryness. Of course you can just use this cleansing oil again for the second cleanse.

If I can only describe this cleansing oil in one word, it would be "simple." Even the ingredients list is short and simple! It does what it's supposed to do and does it well. There's absolutely no fuss. When I'm feeling tired or just don't want to spend too much time on my skincare routine, I go to this and take off my makeup in 1 minute (from pumping it out of the bottle to pad-drying my face).
I highly recommend it to everyone with any skin type. If you have dry skin, just adjust your routine with other products, such as cleansing milk or cleansing balm for second cleanse, and moisturizing toners, etc.

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Makeup Tips: Choosing a Concealer


Concealer is something that seems to have a lot of "rules" (use green on blemishes, use light under eyes, set it with powder, etc). I'm extremely particular about my concealer and in this post, I'm going to share some tips on choosing your perfect concealer and tell you some of my favorite concealers!

Before we start, it's important to clarify the terminologies. Skin tone does NOT equal complexion. Skin tone is the undertone of your skin, so it's cool (pink) vs. neutral vs. warm (yellow). Complexion is how light or how deep your skin is (very pale to very deep).

Coverage
Concealer is obviously for the purpose of concealing. For this reason, a general rule of thumb is the more coverage (aka pigmentation, opacity) the better, especially for blemishes.
For under-eye dark circles, it really depends on your needs. If you have really dark and obvious circles, go for full coverage. If you only have a little bit of darkness/tiredness, you should focus more on the finish and/or the color instead.

Finishes
I know hydrating/creamy concealers get their hypes. However, I don't really like the "hydrating" kinds of concealers. First because a lot of them tend to be on the sheer side due to in relative lack of pigment. Second, because they often give a "wet" look, which is not what natural skin looks like. Third, it's not recommended to be used on blemishes because the dewy finish reflects light and also contrast with the shadow of the bump and therefore emphasizes blemishes. Of course you can set it with powder, and I actually recommend it for most concealers, but the excess hydration tends to stick to excess powder, making it look cakey and uneven.
On the other hand, natural skin doesn't look completely matte, either. But if I have to pick one between hydrating and matte concealers, I would pick matte, because it's closer to the natural finish of the skin and can be mix with minimal amount of moisturizer or foundation to create satin finish.
So what is the perfect finish for concealer? It would be a satin finish. It's not too dewy and not too matte, and most importantly mimic the natural finish of the skin. It can work on full-face makeup days and concealer+mascara days. How do you know it's a satin finish? Swatch it next to a moisturizer and a matte powder. It should not have the shine of the moisturizer but it shouldn't look as flat as the powder.
However, there is one exception: if you have dry skin and/or wrinkles under the eyes, go for the hydrating kind, something that leaves a shine when first applied. The hydration will make the skin feel more comfortable and is unlikely to accentuate the dryness/wrinkles.

Color
There are a gazillion different colors available on the market. I'm not just talking about different skin tones and complexions. There are also the color correcting colors like green, peach, yellow, purple, etc. I believe that color correcting has its magic. However, if you have a good full coverage satin finish concealer, it shouldn't matter much if it color corrects or not. In fact, it would look horrible if it's way off of your exact skin tone and complexion. If you want to color correct anything, do it before putting on your foundation (probably no concealer+mascara day in this case, sorry).
For under-eye dark circles, if they're just dark but aren't particularly blue or purple, use one that's your skin tone but a few shades lighter than your complexion depending on your application preference. Much lighter - under foundation. Just a little lighter - either under or over foundation would be fine. If your dark circle has prominent blue or purple under tones, use a concealer with a yellow or peach under tone and apply it under your makeup. In terms of shade choice and application, same as above. Foundation will help the color blend with the rest of the face.
For the rest of the face, I'd say don't mess with the correcting colors, even if you have redness. As mentioned, any color correcting should be under the foundation. Putting foundation over concealer is just going to move the pigments and you'll end up having to reapply concealer. With all that being said, your face concealer should be the exact tone of your skin tone and the exact shade of your complexion. This may also work as your under-eye concealer.

Application
As mentioned briefly above, for the best coverage, apply concealer on top of foundation. But if you use anything that's noticeable different color than your skin tone and/or complexion, apply it under the foundation because foundation helps it blend in.
For on-top-of-foundation application, the trick is to not over blend. Apply the concealer on the spot and only dab on it 1 or 2 times if there's too much product, and only blend around the spot. For under-eye dark circles just smooth it out to make the coverage and the texture even.
Set all concealed area with a powder to secure the pigments. But don't do it on very dry under-eyes.

If you can only have ONE concealer, you should pick one that
  1. has full or at least buildable-to-full coverage
  2. has satin/skin-like finish
  3. is exact tone of your natural skin tone
  4. is exact shade of your natural complexion

Here are my all time favorite undereye concealers (so far):
  • NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer     $28     0.22 oz / 6.5 ml
    • If I can only have one concealer, this would be it. Don't get tricked by the name. It's not one of those hydrating kinds, even though a ton of bloggers say so. It's a really creamy liquid concealer that gives a satin finish. Good tone and shade selection. Medium-full buildable coverage. It has better staying powder than many other concealers but it does wear off after around 5 hours. It's my night out must-have because it makes touching up makeup really easy. It's not my favorite for under-eye area because it's just a tiny bit less emollient than I would prefer for under-eyes. But it's workable, which makes it an all-rounder.
  • MAC Pro Longwear Concealer     $19     0.3 oz / 9 ml
    • It's more liquidy than the NARS one, but surprisingly it has better coverage. It also lasts longer. I don't love it as much as the NARS one because the packaging and the consistency make it less touch-up friendly. It blends nicely but not as easily as the NARS one because it dries faster and dryer (if that makes sense). It's something that you need to sit down and work with it. But once it sets, it ain't going nowhere. I know some people use it for under-eyes. I find it too dry for under-eyes. But for blemish concealing it's the best I've ever tried.
  • IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye Concealer     $24     0.28 oz / 8 ml
    • I've been using it for a long time and it's my all time favorite under-eye concealer. It's very emollient without being greasy. It has high pigmentation, which means good coverage. It provides medium-full buildable coverage. It has a peachy under tone so I use it under foundation. It's super easy to blend and leaves a dewy finish, which highlights the skin beautifully. Definitely set it with a powder if mascaras tend to smudge on you. It's dry/ mature skin friendly.
  • L'Oreal Magic Lumi Concealer     $12.95     0.05 oz / 1 ml
    • It actually highlights more than it conceals. It's more liquidy than the It Cosmetics one (but still creamy) and provides less coverage (light-medium). It doesn't have any color correcting properties so it can go over foundations. I really like this for under-eye concealing because it dries to a satin finish but at the same time has a very natural sheen that lightens the skin effortlessly. It's also very easy to blend and works well either over or under foundations. It also looks very natural used as a face illuminater.

I understand how frustrating it can be when finding a good concealer because I've been there! Please leave any questions below. I would love to help out!
What's your favorite / least favorite concealers? Share!

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Today's Makeup: The Last Bit of Summer

  • Urban Decay Shattered - Turquoise with gold shimmer on the lids & inner 2/3 of bottom lash line
  • MAC Club - Reddish brown with green shimmer on the outer corner & outer 1/3 of bottom last line

Products used:

Sunday, September 8, 2013

My Favorite Websites to Shop for Cosmetics



I love shopping online for a few reasons. First, I research a lot before purchase (ingredients, swatches, prices) and it's easier to shop and research online at the same time. Second, it's easier to compare products online. Third, I can shop multiple stores at once, which means less travel time and hassles!
However, there are two big downsides: you can't swatch or try out the products before you buy it, and shipping fees and return policies can be a huge turn off.
I absolutely hate paying for shipping and crappy return policies. With that being said, I'm going to recommend some of my favorite websites to shop and most of them have it all covered!

Nordstrom offers the best shipping and return policies. The shipping is absolutely free, no minimum $. If you try the product and don't love it, you can return it for a full refund or exchange for something else. The return process is super easy. Did I mention that you don't pay for return shipping? They also have a lot of brands that Sephora doesn't carry.
Brands to check out: MAC, Burberry, Estee Lauder, Chanel, Kevyn Aucoin, Jouer, Giorgio Armani, Jo Malone, Diptyque, Lipstick Queen

ASOS is a UK retailer. I love ASOS because they offer free shipping and free return shipping. They can also do full refund on returns within 28 days after placing the order. The shipping is relatively fast for international shipping to US. Unlike other UK websites, for some reason I've never been charged for a currency exchange fee. I love ASOS for both fashion and cosmetics products, especially UK cosmetics brands. They sometimes run really nice sales, too!
Brands to check out: Bourjois, Barry M, Daniel Sandler, Illamasqua, Lord & Berry, Models Own, Rimmel (for UK exclusive items)

Sephora
Sephora.com
Sephora is great for their loyalty program (Beauty Insider). Earning points is easy and the points are basically your token to get free things (samples, minis). Beauty Insideres also get free birthday gifts! Beauty Insiders who spend $350 a year are qualified to be VIB. If you spend $1000 a year, you are a VIB Rouge! For benefits details, click this link. They offer free shipping on orders over $50 and free return shipping and refunds. You can also return the products in stores. I prefer Sephora.com when the products I want are available there and total over $50 because I can earn points and pick up some deluxe samples and use the promo codes to pick up even more samples! They also offer a lot of brands and keep expanding their product lines.
Brands to check out: Buxom, Becca, Bite Beauty, Boscia, Bumble and Bumble, Cover FX, Dr. Jart, Edward Bess, Josie Maran, Illamasqua, Hourglass, Kat Von D, Korres, Make Up For Ever, Marc Jacobs, NUDE, Nails Inc, Soap & Glory, Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics

Skin Care Products from DermStore
Dermstore carries a ton of skincare brands and some makeup brands. They also offer free shipping on any orders. The return process isn't as easy as Nordstrom's, but the return shipping is free for an exchange or store credit. I love to come here for french pharmacy brands. It's a good place to go if you're looking for certain ingredients in your skincare because you can shop by ingredients. 
Brands to check out: Embryolisse, La Roche-Posay, Vichy, Juice Beauty, Dermalogica, Avene, Nuxe, DHC, It Cosmetics, Tarina Tarantino

Feelunique is also a UK retailer. They offer free shipping, but no free return shipping and can only return if items are unused. I'm obviously not a fan of their return policies so I mainly shop here for products that are either hyped or highly recommended by my favorite bloggers. They sometimes offer really good prices on some European and Australian brands. I've been charged for currency exchange fees (about $5 per transaction, check with your bank). I know this website doesn't sound very appealing compared to other brands, but I do love it for brands I can't find anywhere else.
Brands to check out: Emma Hardie, Caudalie, Melvita, Antipodes, Daniel Sandler, Trilogy, Dr. Hauschka

drugstore.com     Beauty.com
These two sites are 2 websites 1 bag and offer free shipping over $35 (both sites combined). They both offer really good sales. Drugstore.com often has 20% off or buy one get one 50% off. Beauty.com often offers $10 off $50 purchase; however, I've found the promo hard to work with sometimes because it doesn't combine with other promotions. So if you already have a promotion in your cart it's almost impossible to switch promos. But if it works, it's definitely a great deal, especially on high end brands like NARS, Tarte, Urban Decay, etc. In terms of return shipping, Beauty.com offers it for free but Drugstore.com doesn't.
Brands to check out: Malin & Goetz, Mally Beauty, Kevyn Aucoin, It Cosmetics, Lipstick Queen, Z Palette, theBalm, By Terry

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Today's Makeup: Clubbing in MAC Club

MAC Club is a really pretty warm brown with green shimmer. It looks beautiful in the pan but when swatched or applied it doesn't look all that special because of its poor pigmentation. The green shimmer just doesn't really transfer well onto the crease. I will try applying it wet next time, hoping it will be more pigmented that way.
I find Club a little too warm/red for me so I added a little bit of Fig 1 to neutralize it. I have Woodwinked on the lids. It's very shimmery and helps open up the eyes. I also put it on bottom lash lines.
I cut 1/3 of Ardell Whispies and applied it at the outer ends of my eyes, and finished off with Bobbi Brown Gel Liner and MAC Eyeshadow in Brun on my brows.
On my cheeks, I contoured with NARS Laguna, a really light bronzer for my complexion, and added some warmth with an apricot blush. Can't leave the house without a highlighter for a night-out; I'm using MAC MSF Soft & Gentle. I finished the look with a neutral lipstick. 

Product used

Monday, September 2, 2013

Most Loved 5 of August 2013


I had been doing Most Loved 10 for the past a few months. The posts always ended up being super long and I understand that my readers can lose interest because I lost interest writing towards the end! Also I find a lot of things that I love and use a lot are from previous months' favorites. So I'm going to cut it in half and here we go: Most Loved 5!

MAC Eyeshadow in Soba
This is an eyeshadow that looks nothing special in the pan and swatched. This is an eyeshadow that you really have to try it on to love it. When it's applied on the lids it gives the eyes a subtle warmth. I normally don't put a color darker than my complexion on my hooded lids but this shade, surprisingly, opens up my eyes while giving definition at the same time.

MAC Eyeshadow in Brun
In last month's Most Loved I mentioned Crave in Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette was my favorite brow color. This month I've been using MAC Brun for my brows. I find that Crave is really close to my natural hair color, maybe a teeny tiny bit darker. Crave is pretty pigmented and buttery so it makes my brows look darker and pronounced. This month I've been wearing lighter eyeshadows and Brun is the perfect color for more natural eye looks. MAC describe it as satin muted blackish brown. To me it looks completely matte. It's a dark grey brown so it's just a little lighter than my natural hair color. It gives my brows definition without being dramatic. It's not as buttery as Crave so it's easier to work with as a brow color.

NARS Blush in Luster
I've been using this blush most days this month. It's a beautiful apricot color with shimmer. It's not overly shimmery, which allows me to use my highlighters. I don't use bronzers to give warmth to my skin because it can sometimes get too dark and look funky with my contour. This blush is light and almost doesn't have any pink in it so it gives a nice warmth to the cheeks without making my face look muddy.


Shiseido Eyelash Curler
I had always been afraid of eyelash curler because they tend to either break my lashes or pluck them. My lashes are very fine so they get nice natural curl just with mascaras. The curl that Shiseido Lash Curler gives is like the enhanced version of my natural curl. It's natural but opens up my eyes even more. It grabs almost all my lashes (only missing few front ones) so I don't have to worry about uneven curls. It has not broken my lashes or pluck them. It's definitely worth the money.

Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Masque
This is a Lisa Eldridge influenced purchase. I have been breaking out and my skin feels very irritated. Whenever I use it (at night) my skin feels much calmer and my pimples are not as red the next morning. It contains hyaluronic acid, which is very effective in hydrating the skin. My skin breaks out from hormone changes, allergic reactions, or dehydration. My skin isn't particular dry but it is definitely dehydrated. This mask has done magic in soothing the discomfort.
It comes out clear so it's perfect to use on the airplanes. The only thing I don't like is the smell. It smells kind of like fish. But it's quite easy to get used to.

Bonus: Favorite Blogger of the Month
Caroline Hirons
Her blog has changed my perspectives on skincare. I've made a lot of changes in my skincare routine, including using washcloths and pulling myself away from foaming cleansers. She provides a lot of tips on skincare, as well as product reviews. I love that she gets to the point and says it like it is. If you haven't, please check out her blog at http://www.beautymouth.com/. If I could only recommend one blog this year, it would definitely be hers!
If you don't know where to start, check out her cheat sheets first on the right navigation section (scroll down a bit).